On Monday, Google finally confirmed the name of the next version of its mobile OS: Android Oreo. The 8.0 release is set to begin soon for proprietary Pixel and Nexus devices, while phones by other manufacturers will get the update in the coming months.
Much like Android Nougat before it, Oreo does not bring a significant overhaul to the aesthetics we have come to know and use in these devices. Instead, it is swooping in to save the day with functional features that put user experience front and center, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
A few months back when company executives introduced Android O, Apple responded in kind by teasing iOS 11. The rival platform is set to debut along with the next generation of iPhones this September, and it will bring useful new features akin to Google’s software.
Android Oreo: Highlight Features
Android Oreo’s sweet treats come not as eye candy but as enhanced functionality seamlessly integrated with the core experience of using a mobile device. Developers have added a string of notable features that will make your life better and easier.
For starters, the most talked-about feature is, of course, picture-in-picture mode. The mobile OS will now have native support for simultaneous app usage one within the other, which will make multitasking while watching a video or video calling someone much easier in turn.
Google is also borrowing a page from Apple’s book and bringing notification dots to its ecosystem with the new version of Android. Dots appear on the upper right corner of app icons to indicate minor updates within the app instead of prompting full-blown notifications that pop up on top.
Supported devices will get the ability to copy and paste important information more intuitively, and users will get to decide whether they would like Android to auto-fill signup fields with their credentials to quickly get access to their favorite apps.
#AndroidOreo will start rolling out in phases soon to Pixel & Pixel XL phones, the Pixel C tablet, & the Nexus 5X, 6P & Nexus Player. ??? pic.twitter.com/xhQ7JApR07
— Android (@Android) August 21, 2017
Android Oreo: when, how, and who can get it
In the background, Oreo is also improving security, performance, and battery life. The all-new Android will boot up twice as fast when compared with its previous version, save extra juice to get you through the day and introduce Google Play Protect as a new firewall for potentially harmful apps.
Signing up for the Android O beta program is the fastest way to get a taste of what the full-blown Oreo will deliver in time. It requires you to have any of the following devices: Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel, Pixel XL, and the Pixel C tablet.
If you already own one of those but are not signed up for the program, you just got to wait and you should get that sweet Oreo in the coming weeks. New devices by Nokia, Essential, Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola, Huawei, Kyocera, Sony, and Sharp will also get it over the coming months or ship with it out of the box.
Source: Android
